Junk bonds had a phenomenal run. With each truckload of money that the Fed delivered to the markets, valuations soared and yields plunged. Desperate investors, mauled by the Fed’s zero-interest-rate policy, took on risks no questions asked. But suddenly the feeding frenzy turned into a brutal rout – a harbinger of things to come in other markets.
Jobs Barely Keep Up With Population Growth
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Jobs Barely Keep Up With Population Growth
So, 175,000 jobs were created in May. The gains for March and April were revised down by 12,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.6%, from 7.5%, or as the BLS said in its politically correct manner “was essentially unchanged.” With disturbing racial disparities that we’ve become inured to. A showcase of the dreary impact of the Fed’s policies on jobs!
Fed’s Fisher Hilariously Slams Fiscal-Policy Chaos, Slugs QE, And Throws In Funny Video Spoof of Congress
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Fed’s Fisher Hilariously Slams Fiscal-Policy Chaos, Slugs QE, And Throws In Funny Video Spoof of Congress
Japanese Hodgepodge Of Old Ideas And New Contradictions, Stocks Dive In Sympathy
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Japanese Hodgepodge Of Old Ideas And New Contradictions, Stocks Dive In Sympathy
The leaders of Japan Inc. listened politely as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid out his master plan, the cornerstone of Abenomics that would fix everything and offer big handouts to Japan Inc. As his words seeped out, the Nikkei dove 5% in a couple of hours. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of his hodgepodge of old ideas and new contradictions.
The “Chinese Dream” Come True: Gobbling Up Assets Overseas
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on The “Chinese Dream” Come True: Gobbling Up Assets Overseas
The “Chinese dream” is the dream of the whole nation and also of every individual Chinese, explained Fu Ying, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The slogan had been coined by President Xi Jinping after he’d ascended to the throne of the Communist Party. It would benefit the world, she said. But for the richest Chinese, it has already come true.
Morgan Stanley’s Penny-Stock Shenanigans in Spain
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Morgan Stanley’s Penny-Stock Shenanigans in Spain
Lobbying And GMO Giant Monsanto Buckles In Europe
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Lobbying And GMO Giant Monsanto Buckles In Europe
The “March Against Monsanto” in 52 countries, an unapproved strain of its genetically modified wheat growing on its own in Oregon, cancelled wheat export orders…. A rough week for Monsanto. Now it threw in the towel in Europe where its deep pockets and mastery of lobbying had failed: “It’s counterproductive to fight against windmills,” it explained.
Industry Insider: Creative Destruction And Opportunity In The Bloodied Solar Industry
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Industry Insider: Creative Destruction And Opportunity In The Bloodied Solar Industry
Next Shoe To Drop: Shoddy Solar Panels From China
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Next Shoe To Drop: Shoddy Solar Panels From China
The solar-panel price war waged by state-subsidized Chinese companies killed a slew of manufacturers worldwide. Now, much of solar-panel manufacturing takes place in China. To stay alive, they cut costs – and corners. Defects are ballooning. And “cheap” solar panels suddenly get very expensive. A cruel twist for an already threatened industry.